Opinion: The Israeli war on Lebanon's hidden goal: Gaza's full erasure

This week, Lebanon was rocked by deadly explosions targeting the communication devices of Hezbollah members. The blasts killed at least 32 people, including two children and several healthcare workers, while wounding thousands more.

Israel has not denied responsibility for this mass cyberattack, while several officials close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have hinted that Israel was behind it.

It marks a new escalation in what was previously a slow-burning war of attrition between Hezbollah and Israel. While the magnitude of the attack is massive and unprecedented, it should not have come as a surprise.

For weeks, Israeli officials have signalled the need for military intervention to stop Hezbollah rockets and to secure the return of more than 60,000 displaced Israelis to their homes in the north.

Read more:  The Israeli war on Lebanon's hidden goal: Gaza's full erasure